Beyoncé defies ‘Cowboy Carter’ skeptics with a unifying Netflix Christmas half-time performance

Beyoncé’s country crossover wasn’t embraced by everyone at first, but during Netflix’s NFL Christmas Halftime Show, it united audiences across the country.

The singer performed 12 minutes of songs at NRG Stadium in her hometown of Houston, mostly from her album Cowboy Carter. Before the project’s release in March, she wrote on Instagram that it was “born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed.” That led her to do a deeper dive into country music.

The album’s first single, “Texas Hold 'Em,” topped the Hot Country Songs chart, making her the first Black woman ever to win that honor. One radio station refused to play the song, and in response, a petition to play her songs on country radio garnered 28,000 signatures within a month.

Post Malone joined Beyoncé for her Netflix NFL Halftime Show performance. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

Although Beyoncé's songs are popular in some country bars and part of the resurgence of Western style, she didn’t receive any nominations for the Country Music Association Awards ceremony in November. The establishment may not accept her, but her audience certainly has.

Beyoncé was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards this year — the most of any artist. She debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart. Although viewer numbers for her half-time special haven’t been released yet, it’s been well-received on the internet, bringing people together on Christmas Day.

A number of technical issues plagued Netflix’s Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing match in November, a blow to the reputation of the streamer’s biggest-ever live event. Technical problems during the NFL Christmas Day games appeared to be minimal, although the games themselves were also somewhat lackluster.

Streams appeared to hold steady during Beyoncé’s moment. She performed several songs live for the first time, from “16 Carriages” to “Levii's Jeans,” and brought out special guests Shaboozey and Post Malone, who were also featured on Cowboy Carter. She also danced alongside her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.

Beyoncé’s half-time show is not currently available to rewatch, but Netflix announced that show will be streaming as a stand-alone special “later this week.” The singer herself hinted at something big coming Jan. 14, but it’s not clear if that will be a music video, a tour or another album.